Conclusion

I wanted to find out which of the font sizes, font types, font colours and column widths would help increase the idea memory percentage of a middle-aged (ages 45-64 years old) the best.

Based on my research, I hypothesized that the size 13 point font size is the best choice for increasing the idea memory percentage of a reader since it was a size that was not too big and not too small. My experiment showed that the size 10 point font was the best choice instead. For the size 10 point font, the idea memory percentage was 82%, while the size 13 point font did not score too badly with a 78%. Also, the size 10 point font scored higher on the readability measurements. It tied with the size 13 point font for everything except for the Flesch Reading Ease. The size 10 point font received a 37.3, while the size 13 point font had a 36.5. The hypothesis is incorrect.

For the font type experiment, I guessed that the serif font type would be the best font type to use, since it had tails and marks that linked the letters to the next one, making it easier for the eye to move from one word or letter to another. My experiment showed that this was a reasonable guess. The serif font had an average 76% for the idea memory percentage overall, while the sans serif font had an average of 72%, which was close, but not quite as effective. When it came to readability, the serif font type reading piece had 0% of the passive sentences, but it was a 20% for the sans serif reading piece. Therefore, the hypothesis is correct.

I hypothesized that the black font colour would be the best to increase the idea memory percentage. The reason is because it is easy to read, with great contrast between the paper background and itself, and the yellow colour had very little contrast, and the blue colour was at a low wavelength. My experiment showed that the blue coloured font scored the highest out of all three colours. Blue scored 70% for the average idea memory percentage, black scored 54% and yellow scored 48%. After all of this research has been gathered, it can be concluded that my hypothesis is incorrect.

For the fourth and final experiment, I thought that four inch coloumn width would give the best increase for the idea memory percentage. The reason is because it was just the perfect length to fit the average middle-aged adult's eyespan, with it being not too long and not too short, unlike the two and six inch column widths. My experiment showed that the six inch column width gave a better increase for the idea memory percentage, with an average of 70%, while the four inch column had 64%, and the two inch scored a 52%. Plus, the six inch column width reading piece had the best readability out of all three. My hypothesis is incorrect.

After all of this information has been gathered, it can be inferred that a specific format of reading pieces stimulates a part of the brain to get the NMDA receptors working, which strengthen the neural synaptic connections. The stronger the connections, the better the memories are. Also, it can also be proved that a statement I researched earlier in the project does not apply to the idea memory percentage. The statement said that the middle-aged adult should be reading with a size 11-12 point font, but my experiment shows that it is a size 10 font that works for memory. The information researched about serif fonts and sans serif fonts is correct. Serif fonts are easier to read and increase the memory better as well. The information I researched about blue-coloured fonts being harder to read since there is a shorter wavelength is incorrect when applying it to memory and the brain. The lower sampling by the cone mosiac in the eye does not make the idea memory percentage more worse. It makes it better instead. Also, it has now been definitely concluded that the column width rules generated by newspaper designers are used specifically for legibility, not to aid in the idea memory percentage in any way. In general, it has been concluded that middle-aged (ages 45-64) readers usually have their idea memory percentages increased by a specific format that they are accustomed to using a lot as well as a specific format that stimulates the NMDA receptors in their brain. For example, the six inch column width is popular, which makes readers used to reading that format.